Electromagnetic relay with driveshaft stopper

Abstract

An electromagnetic relay includes a fixed contact, a movable contact, a movable contact piece, a movable iron core, a drive shaft, a coil, and a stopper. The movable iron core is movable in a moving direction including a contact direction in which the movable contact approaches the fixed contact and a separation direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact. The movable iron core includes a shaft hole extending in the moving direction. The drive shaft is connected to the movable contact piece. The drive shaft extends through the shaft hole. The drive shaft is fixed to the movable iron core. The coil generates a magnetic force to move the movable iron core in the moving direction. The stopper is connected to the drive shaft. The stopper restricts a movement of the movable iron core with respect to the drive shaft in the moving direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electromagnetic relay, comprising:
 a fixed contact; 
 a movable contact that faces the fixed contact; 
 a movable contact piece connected to the movable contact; 
 a movable iron core that is movable in a moving direction including a contact direction in which the movable contact approaches the fixed contact and a separation direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact, the movable iron core including a shaft hole extending in the moving direction; 
 a drive shaft connected to the movable contact piece, the drive shaft extending through the shaft hole, the drive shaft being fixed to the movable iron core; 
 a coil configured to generate a magnetic force to move the movable iron core in the moving direction; and 
 a stopper connected to the drive shaft to restrict a movement of the movable iron core in the moving direction with respect to the drive shaft, 
 wherein the stopper is located apart from the movable iron core in the moving direction, and 
 a distance between the stopper and the movable iron core in the moving direction is smaller than a movable range of the movable iron core in the contact direction after the movable contact contacts the fixed contact. 
 
     
     
       2. An electromagnetic relay, comprising:
 a fixed contact; 
 a movable contact that faces the fixed contact; 
 a movable contact piece connected to the movable contact; 
 a movable iron core that is movable in a moving direction including a contact direction in which the movable contact approaches the fixed contact and a separation direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact, the movable iron core including a shaft hole extending in the moving direction; 
 a drive shaft connected to the movable contact piece, the drive shaft extending through the shaft hole, the drive shaft being fixed to the movable iron core; 
 a coil configured to generate a magnetic force to move the movable iron core in the moving direction; and 
 a stopper connected to the drive shaft to restrict a movement of the movable iron core in the moving direction with respect to the drive shaft, 
 wherein the stopper is disposed in the contact direction with respect to the movable iron core. 
 
     
     
       3. An electromagnetic relay, comprising:
 a fixed contact; 
 a movable contact that faces the fixed contact; 
 a movable contact piece connected to the movable contact; 
 a movable iron core that is movable in a moving direction including a contact direction in which the movable contact approaches the fixed contact and a separation direction in which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact, the movable iron core including a shaft hole extending in the moving direction; 
 a drive shaft connected to the movable contact piece, the drive shaft extending through the shaft hole, the drive shaft being fixed to the movable iron core; 
 a coil configured to generate a magnetic force to move the movable iron core in the moving direction; and 
 a stopper connected to the drive shaft to restrict a movement of the movable iron core in the moving direction with respect to the drive shaft, 
 wherein the stopper includes a first stopper portion located in the separation direction with respect to the movable iron core, and a second stopper portion located in the contact direction with respect to the movable iron core.